MILITARY ROUTE

The viscountcy of Cabrera was articulated through a network of castles and fortified houses, which were the seats of politic and military power for the nobility in the Middle Ages. This defensive system was supplemented by a number of walled-in villages and watchtowers

A square tower built in 1439 by Violant de Recs, wife of Ramon de Vilanova, who ordered its construction with the authorization of Sança de Ximenis and Isabel de Cabrera in recognition of the services of her father, Bernat de Recs.

This four-storey defensive tower possesses a sturdy appearance, featuring exposed stonework. It was constructed using stone and rubble from fallen masonry, with large blocks reinforcing the corner sections. The sides of the tower measure approximately 7 metres in length, and it stands 15 metres high.

Its architectural features include well-cut quarry stones, several trefoil Gothic windows, and a number of embrasures. Additionally, some merlons have been preserved on the southern façade, where the openings are round arches, whereas the openings on the northern façade consist of corbel or trefoil arches.

In the 19th century, the tower served as a jail, leading to its common name, the Prison Tower. In 1932, a water tank for the village was installed on the first floor, which was subsequently removed during restoration. Although the main door is currently located on the ground floor, it was originally positioned at the height of the first floor on the northern façade.